Key Carer – Nursery School

Overview

Grade: Grade 6

Accountable to: SENCo/Teacher/ Head of School

Purpose

To work as an enthusiastic, motivated and committed team member in Boundstone Nursery School. To assist the Teacher / Head of school in the provision of high-quality childcare. To plan and provide an inclusive, caring and stimulating environment with exciting play opportunities that meet all children’s developmental needs and stimulates their learning. To support the teacher in charge of the SSC with the care of children with additional speech and language needs on a daily basis.

Key Accountabilities

The specific accountabilities as Senior Childcare Educator may alter from time to time in order to meet the needs of the specific cohort of children and families, but accountabilities will include (or be equivalent in nature to) those listed below:

• Maintain the physical, developmental and spiritual wellbeing of our children ensuring all their needs are met

• To contribute to the smooth and effective running of the Nursery School and the SSC, working as part of a supportive team

• To act as a Key Carer for a group of children, liaising closely with parents/carers with responsibility for planning, observing and recording the child’s progress and development

• To create and contribute to a range of inviting and fascinating experiences, helping to develop environments that motivate our children’s inquisitive and curious minds

• To support the Head of School in the preparation of specific, sensitive and confidential reports for other professionals, including and not exclusively, Educational Psychologist, Health Professionals and wider educational professionals

• Represent Boundstone Nursery School in a professional and informed manner when interacting with all partners, both internally as part of the working day and externally with families and other professionals including Ofsted 

• To encourage the close involvement of parents/carers in their child’s learning and development • To be responsible for regularly handling, processing and storing confidential information relating to the children

• Remain up to date and compliant with all relevant legislation, organisational procedures, policies and professional codes of conduct in order to uphold standards of best practice. Additionally, to assist the team to remain up to date and compliant

Role Demands

• The job requires the Senior Childcare Educator to be physically fit, work on their own initiative and be responsive to the needs of young children

• There will be occasions requiring physical effort for manual handling, e.g. lifting, changing and dressing children

• There will be occasions where you will be required to provide personal care to young children

•  Due to the nature of this Key Carer role the work can sometimes include contact with parents and/or children who may be abusive, aggressive or distressed

Person Specification

This section outlines the key criteria that must be addressed when submitting an application for employment as shortlisting for interview will be based on information supplied here.

Level of Knowledge

• Excellent working knowledge and understanding of the key principles of child development and the Early Years Foundations Stage (EYFS)

• An understanding of the Special Educational Needs (SEND) Code of Practice and the provision of an inclusive environment

• Relevant organisational skills

• Knowledge and understanding of key carer systems and effective record keeping

• Good understanding of Ofsted regulatory requirements

• Knowledge and understanding of Child Protection and the Children’s Act 1989

Qualifications and Professional Membership

• NVQ Level 3 or above in Early Years Childcare and Education or similar

Experience

• Experience of working with young children in a variety of settings

• Experience of working with parents/carers

Experience

• Having sound communication and interpersonal skills Key Skill

• The ability to organise/prioritise work and co-ordinate a variety of tasks in a clear and logical way and meet agreed deadlines Key Skill

• Having a high level of literacy and numeracy skills in order to maintain accurate records and compile written reports Key Skill

• The ability to assess and plan for individual young children to ensure their unique needs are met Key Skill